It could have been our day. It still can.
The Mayo faithful don't know how to react. Why should they? Should they be happy that they have another chance to end the curse, or will they be cursing their luck after missing out on a great opportunity to beat the Dubs.
But while former Mayo manager James Horan was trying to figure out how to feel, the Connaught Telegraph was saying that Mayo proved they will win in two weeks time:
Mayo had Dublin on the run. Make no mistake about it. Despite a performance which had many warts, including two outrageous OGs, Mayo dug deep on a dreary day in Croke Park.
But everyone was agreed, despite being gifted the lead - Dublin blew a gilt-edged chance to end the contest after the two 'bizarre' own-goals.
Mayo Reaction
In the Star, Horan pointed the finger at Diarmuid Connolly for wrestling control of a late-line ball from Ciaran Kilkenny:
It wasn't the right decision, and he didn't make it count. That gave Mayo a lifeline which they grabbed through Cillian O'Connor.
It was a bad call from Connolly. The ball should have been played short to Mannion and he would have been well able to win a free. That would have been game over. Instead, Mayo had a chink of light.
The Mayo Advertiser, understandably, decided to heap praise on Cillian O'Connor for the balls to make that last ditch equalising point:
When Mayo needed a man to show the leadership in a clutch situation, their star man came good right at the death.
The advertiser wasn't as bullish as the Connaught Telegraph for the replay, referring to manager Stephen Rochford and how disappointed he was that Mayo hadn't ended the curse in 2016 at the first time of asking. It's not as bad as the 'sitting on the fence' attitude of Horan in the Star either:
I don't think happiness is the right word. Maybe relief, with a little dash of happiness.
The Advertiser focused on reviewing the game, whilst the Connaught Telegraph were already looking at the replay, including the 2/1 odds on Mayo to win the replay in 70 minutes.
Horan was more weary though, and thinks that both sides can improve. He says that Jim Gavin has some tough calls to make in his forward line - specifically with Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan who "haven't been going well all summer"
Mayo can play a lot better. Straight after the game, there was the usual stuff about Mayo's chance being gone now, but I don't buy that.
Declan Varley of the Advertiser summed it up perfectly, Mayo didn't win anything from this draw - only Coppers and the GAA's bank account won:
A draw and replay are great if you’ve been thrown a lifeline. They’re a heartbreaker if they have denied you the chance of victory.
See Also: Irish Sporting World Reacts As Mayo Fight Back To Draw An Incredible All-Ireland Final
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
